GHC Home > Financial Aid > FAFSA 101

FAFSA 101

If you’re applying for financial aid for the FALL 2024, Spring 2025, and/or Summer 2025 semesters, you will need to complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

Applying for Financial Aid

The FAFSA stands for the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid.  You should never pay to complete the FAFSA which determines your eligibility for these types of Federal Student Aid:

Don’t forget to include the GHC School Code (009507) on your FAFSA!

Step One: Set up your StudentAid.Gov account

The StudentAid.Gov account information confirms your identity when you access your financial aid information and when you electronically sign Federal Student Aid documents. You can create a StudentAid.Gov account when logging into your FAFSA.

  • Student and ALL Contributors must have a StudentAid.Gov account.
  • Individuals without SSN (Social Security Number) will also be able to create an account.
  • Users without this account can no longer access, create, or submit an online FAFSA.

Tip:  Have your SSN card available for reference when creating a StudentAid.Gov account and when filling out the FAFSA.

Tip:  StudentAid.Gov account information cannot be shared with anyone else and should be kept confidential to the person who created it!

Step Two: Get Documents & Information

Gather the documents and information needed to fill out your FAFSA.  In addition to the documents and/or information found at this link, please also have the following available:

  • Student:  SSN (Social Security Number), address, household information (how many live in household), birthdate, email address, and StudentAid.Gov account information to access and electronically sign the FAFSA
  • Contributors (Parent/Stepparent/Spouse):  SSN (Social Security Number), address, household information (how many live in household), marriage/divorce/separation dates (month/year) if applicable, birthdates, email address for each, and  StudentAid.Gov account information to access and electronically sign the FAFSA
  • Schools:  The list of schools you want added to the FAFSA

Step Three: Fill out the FAFSA

Go to the Federal Student Aid website and click on FAFSA Form, and then Complete the FAFSA Form to access your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Note that there are “Help” boxes on the FAFSA to assist you with the questions and to help you navigate it properly. Reading the instructions carefully and double-checking your information will help to ensure that you are providing the correct information. At the end of the application, you will be asked to “sign” it. You will do this electronically with your StudentAid.Gov account information if applicable.

If you are a Dependent student, your Contributors (parent/stepparent if applicable) will be required to sign your FAFSA with their StudentAid.Gov account information (if applicable).  Your FAFSA cannot be processed if the student and/or parent signature is missing. To know whether you are a Dependent or Independent student, click HERE. After signing the FAFSA, click the submit button and wait for confirmation that your application has been submitted.  A confirmation will be sent to the email that you provided on the FAFSA.

Tip: You must choose the FAFSA application for the correct aid year.  An aid year encompasses fall, spring, and summer.

Tip: Not sure whether you should provide parent information on the FAFSA?  Click HERE for Federal Student Aid guidance on what makes you a Dependent student, parental information, and what is required on the FAFSA.

Tip: ALL Students and Contributors (parent/stepparent/spouse) MUST provide consent on the FAFSA for their FTI (Federal Tax Information) to be shared through the FA-DDX which stands for FUTURE Act Direct Data Exchange.  Even if a student and/or Contributor did NOT file a tax return, consent and approval must be provided.  If you (and/or Contributors) do not provide consent, the FAFSA cannot be submitted and the student will not be eligible for Federal Student Aid.

Tip:  Once you have filed your taxes electronically, you must wait 2-3 weeks for the information to be available via this option. If you mailed in your tax returns, you must wait at least 6 weeks before your tax information will be available via this option.

Tip: Make sure that you enter the correct name and Social Security Numbers for everyone who is included on your FAFSA.

  • For the FAFSA, you must use your legal name (first and last name) that is on your SSN card (do not use a name that is not on your SSN card and do not use nicknames, middle names, or shortened last names).
  • Incorrect Social Security Numbers can result in the inability to create a StudentAid.Gov account which keeps the participant from accessing the FAFSA.

Have your SSN card available for reference when creating a StudentAid.Gov account and when filling out the FAFSA.

Tip:  Not signing the FAFSA electronically (you and your Contributors if applicable) can cause your FAFSA to be rejected.

Tip: Failure to select a High School Completion Status will cause a School Review requirement on your FAFSA.  Make sure to select either high school diploma, GED/State-recognized high school equivalent, or Homeschooled on your FAFSA.

CORRECTIONS:  What if I made a mistake on my FAFSA?

Corrections can be made to the FAFSA (explore information on how to make corrections).

Step Four: Monitor the Status of Your FAFSA

The FAFSA can take from 5-7 business days to be sent to the schools listed on your FASFA. Make sure you read the FAFSA Submission Summary (formerly know as the SAR or Student Aid Report) that is sent to you through the email you provided on the FAFSA. You can also check your FAFSA Submission Summary by logging back into your FAFSA. If your SAI or Student Aid Index (formerly known as the EFC or Expected Family Contribution Amount) on the FAFSA Submission Summary has an asterisk (*) next to it, your FAFSA has pulled back in from the Federal system with a Verification  attached to it.  If your FAFSA is selected for the Verification process, you will be required to submit additional documentation and information to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at the college you will be attending.  You can do this at GHC by creating an account on our Verification website (all information and/or documentation will be submitted electronically).  The Verification process can take up to two weeks to complete once all required information and/or documentation is received.

To monitor the status of your FAFSA at Georgia Highlands College:

1.Monitor your Charger Portal:

  • Log into your Charger Portal
  • In the Financial Aid section, click on the Financial Aid link.
  • Select the appropriate aid year (encompasses fall, spring, and summer).
  • Click on the Offers link.

2.You can access your class schedule information, charges including tuition/fees, financial aid/payment information, and any balances owed/refunds due on your  Schedule/Bill.

3.You can also email finaid@highlands.edu for updates.

Click here for common mistakes students make on the FAFSA.

For additional guidance on the FAFSA and Verification, reference this information on the Federal Student Aid website.

Non-U.S.Citizens may be eligible for aid. Please click HERE to see if you are eligible to receive aid.